Gardening by the Moon Weekend To-Do

An idea as old as agriculture, based both folklore and superstition but there are scientific ideas to back it up.

• Lunar Phase: Easter and, 4th Quarter begins on Sunday, April 4
  • • Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Capricorn. -
      • Plant for root growth, especially potatoes and onions,  Beets, radishes, and carrots are sown directly into the open ground or containers. They're best planted in rows spaced two feet apart.
      • Seed potatoes are recommended when planting potatoes. Potatoes from the supermarket are treated to prevent the eyes,  growth buds, from growing.  So, your yield varies.

Later in the Week

• Monday-Wednesday: Moon in the sign of Aquarius - Harvest, cultivate and control pests.
  • When harvesting strawberries, leave a portion of the stem attached to the berry. This extends the shelf life of the berry.
• Thursday-Friday: Moon in the sign of Pisces - Prune, water, compost, and fertilize 
  • Early season flowering trees and shrubs are pruned for shape and reduce their size. Also, remove the deadwood and thin out the canopy.

Other Things To-do

• Now is the time to be on the lookout for curly leaves on flowering and fruiting plum trees. Aphids cause the problem. They curl the leaves up like an Italian cookie. I'd pick off the curled leaves, then spray the tree(s) with Insecticidal Soap and make a follow-up application in seven days. Once the leaves curl, they will never uncurl;  instead,  they shrivel up and turn brown. They remain on the trees until the leaves drop in the fall, so it's important to identify the problem early on.